KTBB News, Weather, Talk

TYLER — An arrest warrant has been issued for the second man charged with beating a nonverbal autistic teen last year after he did not show up for a scheduled court hearing on Wednesday where he was expected to plead guilty. According to our news partner KETK, 26-year-old Bubacarr Ceesay was arrested along with Auston Reed in February of last year after allegedly being caught on a secret recording of them reportedly assaulting an autistic teen in the middle of the night. Reed pleaded guilty in January and was sentenced to 10 years in prison. He is currently serving his sentence at the Byrd Unit in Huntsville.

TYLER — The National Weather Service says the tornado that hit Lindsey Park in the Tyler area Tuesday was an EF0, with winds of about 80 mph. According to our news partner KETK, an EF0 is the lowest rating on the Enhanced Fujita scale, used by the National Weather Service to determine the strength of a tornado. The tornado hit the park west of Loop 323 about 9 a.m. According to the city, damage at the park was minor and consisted of tipped over bleachers, torn soccer goals, about five uprooted and downed trees, and a goal post that was blown over. The twister also was seen touching down briefly over the Cascades golf course not far from Lindsey Park. No one was hurt by the twister. Continue reading NWS: Lindsey Park tornado had winds of about 80 mph

TYLER — Liberty Hall and the City of Tyler will be hosting the Downtown Tyler Film Festival virtually from June 10 to June 13. The event will start each night at 7:00. Tickets are now on sale. Passes for individual nights are $15 each, or you can purchase a four-day pass for $50. Ticket holders will attend the event virtually through a link emailed two hours before the start of the event each night. Click this link for more information.

TYLER — Judge Ken Starr will be in Tyler Thursday to sign his new book, “Religious Liberty in Crisis: Exercising Your Faith in an Age of Uncertainty.” The noon event at Hollytree Country Club will be hosted by the Rotary Club of Tyler. Starr is a former president and chancellor of Baylor University. He was appointed to serve as independent counsel for five investigations, including Whitewater, from 1994 to 1999.

ATHENS — Henderson County deputies and investigators arrested an armed man for online solicitation of a child online after they were forced to breach his residence, according to Sheriff Botie Hillhouse. Hillhouse says James Bond, 50, was arrested at a home on Chapperall Drive Tuesday and was also charged with aggravated assault against a public servant. According to Hillhouse, the team approached the residence, announced its presence, and eventually breached the door of the home to gain entry. Inside, they reportedly found Bond in the residence armed with a rifle. Hillhouse says Bond pointed the loaded weapon at one of the investigators but eventually surrendered.

TYLER — The city of Tyler is notifying residents of problems with the TSA Pre✓ service scheduled for Tyler Pounds Regional Airport the week of July 12. The city earlier advised interested residents to begin signing up for the opportunity. Now the city has issued a statement saying, “We are aware that the City of Tyler is not showing as an option on the TSA website for the Pre✓ service. We are reaching out to TSA to resolve the issues as quickly as possible. Once it is resolved, we will notify the public via social media and press release. We apologize for the inconvenience this may have caused our residents.” According to an earlier news release, “TSA Pre✓ is an expedited screening program that enables identified low-risk air travelers to enjoy a smart and efficient screening experience.”

TYLER — The Tyler Area Metropolitan Planning Organization Transportation Policy Committee will hold a regular meeting Thursday, June 17, beginning at 2 p.m. in the Tyler City Council Chambers. On the agenda: the 2021 Master Street Plan and Transit Route Study; amendments to the 2045 Metropolitan Transportation Plan and to the 2021-2024 Transportation Improvement Program; and the fiscal year 2022-2023 Unified Planning Work Program. Residents can review the agenda and access the meeting here.

TYLER — Newly revealed court documents involving the arrest of former Smith County elections official Denise Hernandez showed multiple employees accusing her of being a bully toward them. According to our news partner KETK, Hernandez was arrested last week. She’s accused of spiking drinks that she gave employees with colon cleanser and did not tell them until after they finished. She had originally told them they were energy drinks. Hernandez has been charged with two counts of assault and has been released on a $20,000 bond. Continue reading Warrant: Former Smith County Elections Administrator has a history of bullying employees

ATHENS — The Athens City Council Tuesday accepted the resignation of Mayor James Montgomery (pictured) after his arrest last week for online solicitation of a minor. According to our news partner KETK, the council called a special session after his arrest and promoted Mayor Pro Tem Toni Clay to acting mayor. Montgomery was arrested Thursday as part of a sting in Longview. He remains free on $300,000 bond.

EAST TEXAS — Severe storms moved through East Texas Tuesday morning, prompting at least two tornadoes, according to our news partner KETK. At least one tornado hit the Tyler area. According to a news release from the city of Tyler, about 25 children aged 9-16 were participating in a soccer camp at Lindsey Park when they were rushed off the fields into the park restrooms as the twister was seen heading straight to the soccer fields. Lindsey Park Crew Leader Dorean Lindsey said his team spotted the tornado and began working to get the children and coaches off the field and into the restrooms, where they could take cover. Continue reading Severe storms move through East Texas

ATHENS — The Athens city council called a special session today to discuss what steps to take following the arrest of their mayor. According to our news partner KETK, the meeting is scheduled for 10 a.m. in the Derek D. Daniels Conference Room of the Athens Partnership Center. According to the agenda, the council is scheduled to “Discuss, consider, and take action, as necessary, concerning the acceptance of resignation letter from Monte Montgomery.” Continue reading Athens city council will hold special meeting to consider resignation of mayor

AUSTIN — A jackpot-winning ticket worth an estimated annuitized $5 million for the Lotto Texas drawing held June 5 was purchased at EZ Bee49 on S. Eastman Road in Longview. The winning Quick Pick ticket matched all six of the numbers drawn (5-11-20-24-27-46). The cash value option was selected at the time of purchase and the claimant will receive $3,755,592.41 before taxes. As of late Monday afternoon, the prize had not yet been claimed. The winner has 180 days from the draw date to claim it.

ATHENS — The case of an Athens ISD bus driver charged for the death of a child is headed back to a grand jury. According to our news partner KETK, 80-year-old John Stevens is charged with criminally negligent homicide and injury to a child after the January 2019 crash with a train. The collision killed 13-year-old Christopher Bonilla and injured 9-year-old Joselyne Torres. The Texas Attorney General’s Office is now prosecuting the case after the Henderson County DA’S office recused itself, citing a “conflict of interest.” Prosecutors announced that they would be sending the case back to the grand jury in July because they were not happy with the language of the indictments. 392nd District Judge Scott McKee set a status hearing date of August 5.

EAST TEXAS — Thousands lost power in East Texas Monday as storms passed through the area, according to our news partner KETK. Crews were working to get things back to normal. Rain chances continue at least through Tuesday, with a flash flood watch covering much of the region.

TYLER — Tyler ISD has appointed an acting principal for Tyler Legacy High School after the resignation of former principal Dr. Daniel Crawford. According to our news partner KETK, Gary Brown will serve until an interim or permanent replacement is selected. He was the principal of Tyler Legacy from 2012-2016 before moving to his job as executive director of college and career at TISD, which he has held five years. The position of principal was opened after Crawford resigned amid an investigation into a “powdery white substance” found in his home last week. That investigation continues.

VAN ZANDT COUNTY — Both I-20 eastbound mainlanes are open again after being closed due to an overturned dump truck near FM 16 in Van and Mile Marker 536. Traffic had to be detoured for much of the early afternoon Monday. The roadway was back to normal by around 2 p.m.

TYLER — The Human Trafficking Unit of the Texas Attorney General’s Office announced an arrest made in Smith County last week. According to a news release, Brandon Lee Mon Johnson, 25, of Tyler was arrested June 3 for continuous trafficking of a person. Officials say Johnson was arrested after he was found with a minor who was believed to be a victim of domestic sex trafficking. According to authorities, the investigation confirmed that Johnson had been sex trafficking the minor, and Johnson was transported to the Smith County Jail. The arrest was made in a joint operation with the United States Marshal’s Task Force in Tyler.

TYLER — TxDOT is planning more construction and maintenance work in the Tyler District this week. Seal coat operations continue around the district. Motorists should expect lane closures and delays during this work to seal and protect roadways from water, and to provide a longer life cycle. Various project work will be conducted with slow-moving mobile operations. Click here for the full district-wide rundown.

TYLER – The Tyler Police Department released the identity of the man who allegedly robbed three convenience stores and a donut shop in Tyler. Michael Edward Lout, 56 , is considered the suspect in all the robberies. Lout was charged with four counts of aggravated robbery and his bond was set to $300,000. According to our news partner KETK, the robbery calls began around 6:30 a.m., when Lout first robbed a convenience store on Tyler’s west southwest loop 323. There, Lout is said to have threatened a clerk with a knife. Investigators say he robbed three other businesses in succession. According to officials, Lout acted alone. It is not known if any injuries were sustained during the robberies.

ATHENS — Monte Montgomery submitted his resignation as mayor of Athens Friday, June 4, “effective immediately,” according to the city’s Facebook page. The move follows Montgomery’s arrest in Gregg County for online solicitation of a minor, as reported earlier by our news partner KETK. The arrest was part of a multi-agency sting. The 63-year-old’s bond was set at $300,000 surety with conditions, and he bonded out a short time later. Continue reading Athens mayor resigns

TYLER — The principal of Tyler Legacy High School has resigned amid an investigation into a “powdery white substance” found at his home earlier this week. Tyler Police told our news partner KETK emergency personnel were called early Thursday morning to the home of Dr. Daniel Crawford. According to the incident report, officials found less than a gram of the substance. It has not been clarified what that substance was. At last report, police said Crawford had not been arrested, but there is an ongoing investigation and the incident report describes the crime as “possession of a controlled substance, penalty group 1.” According to a Friday statement from TISD Superintendent Dr. Marty Crawford, “Today, the district expected the resignation of Tyler Legacy Principal Dr. Daniel C. Crawford. The district will immediately begin the process of filling this vacancy.”

MARSHALL — East Texas Baptist University has announced a new partnership with the Cargill family to help facilitate the Polly Cargill Nursing Scholarship program. Jerry and Jack Cargill founded the scholarship to honor their mother, Polly Cargill, and support nursing students, according to an ETBU news release. Since its inception 19 years ago, the Polly Cargill Nursing Scholarship has provided financial aid to 60 nursing students from schools across the East Texas region, including East Texas Baptist.

TYLER — The city of Tyler is planning a couple of fun and educational activities. Keep Tyler Beautiful invites the community to Bee Day in the Garden for the Grand Opening of the Honey Bee Observation Hive from 10 a.m. to noon on Saturday, June 26, at the Tyler Municipal Rose Garden. The celebration includes activities for children, honey vendors, face painters, local food trucks, and educational workshops. And Tyler Public Library will resume in-person storytime for children on June 22. Storytimes are geared for babies, toddlers, and preschoolers and feature reading, singing, and other activities. To learn more, click here and scroll down to “Tyler News.”

TYLER — The University of Texas at Tyler recently appointed Lacie Ballinger as the new executive director of the Discovery Science Place. Ballinger was most recently director of collections and exhibits for the Tallahassee Museum in Florida. Other museum experience includes 10 years as the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History collections manager and eight years as the Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza concept development and collections coordinator. The Discovery Science Place is a non-profit science museum in downtown Tyler that operates in partnership with UT-Tyler.

WHITEHOUSE — Shortly before a visit to Whitehouse, Republican Party of Texas Chairman Allen West resigned his post. According to a statement from the state party, West will stay on until a new chair can be selected July 11. The statement goes on to say West “will prayerfully reflect on a new chapter in his already distinguished career.” Our news partner KETK reports that during a news conference in Whitehouse Friday, West said he is contemplating running for office. He said he has made no decision on what office he might seek, though he added, “Maybe something congressional.” There has been speculation that he would challenge Greg Abbott for governor.

LONGVIEW — The demolition work to remove the Lansing Switch Road bridge over I-20 between Longview and Hallsville Sunday night has been postponed due to inclement weather predictions. The work will be rescheduled as weather permits, according to a news release from TxDOT. Anyone having any questions about the road closure, detour route, or demolition work can call the TxDOT Marshall area office at 903-935-2809 for more information.

LONGVIEW — The Gregg County Sheriff’s Office is seeking assistance in locating a missing 13-year-old, said to be a runaway. Officials say Gracelyn Elaine Lachney has her hair dyed black and is 5’6″ tall, with a medium build. She was last seen in the Kilgore/Liberty City area. You’re asked to contact local law enforcement if you have any information on her whereabouts.

TYLER — Senator John Cornyn keynotes the Tyler Area Chamber of Commerce Energy Summit and holds a press conference afterwards. One key topic: the electricity grid in the face of February’s Arctic blast — and recent cyber attacks. Cornyn said, “I don’t think we’re any more prepared for cyber attacks on our grid than we were for this extremely cold weather — and we better wake up, and we better pay attention and fix that, because our grid is critical infrastructure; it’s national security.” Continue reading Cornyn addresses energy summit

TYLER — The East Texas Food Bank is holding another mega drive-thru produce distribution Friday from 10 a.m. till noon at Lindsey Park in Tyler, with free fruits and vegetables given out to families. The event is open to anyone and there are no eligibility or paperwork requirements. The food bank reminds you this is a drive-thru distribution and walk-ups will not be accepted. Multiple households can carpool. If someone is unable to attend a distribution, they may send a note with a friend or family member to pick up food for them. The note must include their name, signature, and a statement that the individual is permitted to pick up food for you. Any single car may not have more than three of these notes, so a maximum of four households can be served per vehicle.